Unlike our old house, this new one has an open staircase that goes down to the lower level. I love the open-concept and floor plan, however...with three little ones, it has made me a little nervous. Kaelyn and Kaden do pretty well with it, but our youngest is now army crawling and rolling all over the place. As soon as he became mobile I knew we needed to get a gate up to keep him safe when moving around the main level. Thankfully, KidCo came to our rescue!
KidCo offers a comprehensive assortment of child home safety products, including safety gates, natural feeding products and more! We have owned a couple of KidCo products over the years, including their PeaPod travel bed for children which we love!

Browsing their website, I was drawn to their great selection of Safety Gates and couldn't have been happier to learn we were going to have the opportunity to review one. We were sent the KidCo Angle Mount Safeway G2100 Gate.


  • Perfect for top of stairs applications, including walls or staircase balusters that don't line up
  • Quick release hardware
  • Directional stop prevents gate from swinging out over stairs
  • Hinge AND Latch side hardware can be mounted on an angle
  • Heavy duty steel construction
  • Measures 28" - 42.5" in width
  • Height - 31"
Since we were in need of a gate that was made for the top of stairs, I had a feeling this hardware mounted gate would be exactly what we had been looking for. I was right! 
Upon pulling it out of the box, I was impressed right away with the heavy duty steel construction. With any safety gate, safety is most important...so I was happy to see this is made well and will last us a very long time!

As with anything that needs to be assembled, I wondered how long the gate would take to put together. Thankfully, it was fairly simple. My husband followed the instructions and had the gate ready to go in about 30 minutes (with three little ones running/crawling around him!). 
We have walls on each side of the gate, however, it can also be used at the top of stairs where there are staircase balusters that don't line up. There are even 10" extensions available for larger openings, not to mention that the Hinge and Latch side hardware can be mounted on an angle! It's really a versatile product and one that seems like it can easily be used in many different houses.


As I looked it over, I was happy to see that there isn't a bottom threshold that could cause someone to potentially trip over it. I truly appreciate this, especially being at the top of the stairs! 

This is a high traffic area in our household with my husband's office, my daughter's bedroom, and the kids' playroom all being on the lower level. We are going from one level to the next often throughout the day, so it was important that this gate was not only safe, but also easy to use. Thankfully, it is. It features quick release hardware and is easy for us to open and close. My 2 year old has a difficult time, but that is ok. I'd rather he ask to go down anyways. The rest of us have no problem at all though and it locks into place very securely.
Another neat feature is that there's a directional stop which prevents the gate from swinging out over the stairs. It only opens one direction which is perfect for our needs!

Overall we've been extremely happy with the KidCo Angle Mount Safeway G2100 Safety Gate! The quality is fantastic, it keeps my little ones safe when by the staircase, and it's easy to mount and use. I would definitely recommend it to other families with children. 

Buy It: You can visit KidCo.com to find local retailers and online locations where KidCo Safety Gates are sold. The Angle Mount Safeway G2100 Safety Gate retails for $59.99. 

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win a safety gate from KidCo. Winner will choose between the Hardware Mounted Angle Mount Safeway G2100 (like we received), the Hardware Mounted Safeway G2000, OR the Pressure Mounted Gateway G1000.

  

If you'd like to enter, simply enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below (open to US Only). If you don't see the Rafflecopter form, please click here.
**The products for this review and giveaway were provided for free. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.








With a family of 5, there are times I feel like doing laundry is my full time job! The moment I get caught up on getting everything washed, dried, folded and put away, it seems the hampers are full again. On top of a never ending pile of laundry, I also have the pressure to adhere to everyone's needs. Myself, 7 month old and 2 year old all have very sensitive skin. It's necessary to use products that are as gentle as possible, which usually means giving up our favorite smelling detergents. This is one thing I've missed, which is why I was excited to learn about Arm & Hammer's new detergent that will help keep everyone in my family comfortable and smelling great!

Arm & Hammer is a brand known for eliminating odors and dirt. That's why I was excited to learn more about their clinically tested, new Sensitive Skin Plus Skin-Friendly Fresh Scent Laundry Detergent. It was created to be gentle on sensitive skin, all while still allowing users to get the fresh smell of laundry. As someone who struggles with skin sensitivities myself, I was happy to learn that I could have great smelling laundry without the harsh irritants of typical detergents.

We were sent a bottle of the new Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Plus Skin-Friendly Fresh Scent Laundry Detergent to review and I couldn't wait to try it out!
Upon using it, I noticed the great smell right away. I am sensitive to strong smells, so I was happy to find this scent to be more mild. It's just the right amount to make our clothes smell clean and fresh!

Having used it several times, it seems to clean our washables very well. I really do feel that the Baking Soda we know and trust does help eliminate dirt and grime, while also getting rid of unwanted odors with special agents that trap and remove dirt from our clothes.

Every time I pull out our clean clothes, I find myself enjoying the fresh, clean scent! We have had no problems with sensitivities on our skin after wearing the clothes that we were washed with this detergent which has been fantastic! I love that we are able to have the skin-friendly scent in combination with a hypoallergenic formula that we all can enjoy and be comfortable with. It's made my laundry routine a bit less stressful being able to easily make everyone in the family happy!

I've definitely been impressed with the new Arm & Hammer Sensitive Skin Plus Skin-Friendly Fresh Scent Laundry Detergent. I'd definitely recommend it to other families as well.

You can connect with Arm & Hammer on Facebook as well. 


**I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Arm & Hammer and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.**



Vedette Shapewear Review & Giveaway

Posted by Jenna | Thursday, June 21, 2012






Getting dressed up for a special occasion used to be something I enjoyed in my younger years. However, over the years my body has changed since having children, making it more difficult to find clothing that I think looks flattering and slimming. That's why I'm thankful for a company like Vedette Shapewear.


With a mission to be recognized as a leading company in the production and marketing of shapewear, Vedette Shapewear implements a new technology and exclusive design that meet customers' needs. By creating high quality garments that meet the highest standards, they are committed to providing you with the high-performance products that bring you the best results. Offering a wide range of shapeware and support garmnets for any occasion, you're sure to find something that will help you achieve your ideal silhouette and make you feel comfortable in what you're wearing at the same time.

I was introduced to Vedette Shapewear last year when asked to review one of their great items. Having been so pleased with the quality and results, I was excited when asked to work on another review with them. As I browsed their website, I was impressed once again with their extensive line of body shapers, waist cinchers, compression garments and more! I decided to go with the Alaina Dual Control Full Body Shaper and am so happy I did!
When the shapewear arrived, I was excited to try it out. I was happy to see that it came packaged so nicely. I love when companies take the time to present their products with such care to the customer.
As I pulled the Alaina shapewear out of the package, I was happy to see that the quality was just what I expected! The Nylon/Latex/Cotton/Spandex material is top-notch and something that will last a long time. It is what makes their shapewear different then some of the others I've seen, as it provides a different and a very unique compression.

After checking it out, I was excited to try it on. I actually got a size larger than I did last time because I remember that the Vedette site says their sizes run small and feeling like a medium would be more comfortable this time around. I was right...it fit perfectly! It was a bit snug, but having now worn shapewear before...I knew this was normal. I was so happy to see how well it slimed my abdomen, waist and back! The results are fantastic.

I love the style of this capri body shaper! I wear capris and pants a lot, even in the summertime...so this will be perfect to wear under almost anything I have on. It works great at helping slim my hips and legs as well, which is an added bonus!

Overall I've been really impressed with the Alaina shapewear I was sent from Vedette. I will definitely be recommending their high quality items to other women I know!

Buy It: You can purchase the Alaina Full Body Shaper for $113 at Vedettestore.com!


Win It: One lucky reader is going to win a piece of shapewear from Vedette! (Please note - Winner will not have a choice in style, only in size. Vedette will choose style based on what they have available) US Only. Just enter my Rafflecopter giveaway below... (if you don't see the Rafflecopter form, click here)


a Rafflecopter giveaway




**The product for this review and giveaway were provided for free. All opinions are my own.**








With summer here, our family is on the go a lot! Whether it be a trip to the zoo, a family vacation or a visit to Grandma's...car rides can be long and boring for little ones. That's why go to items like iPhones and iPads seem to be a favorite of our kids'....especially with so many kid-friendly apps, games and tv shows accessible anytime, anywhere. The only problem is, with such pricey devices, it's difficult to keep them safe from drool, drops and even accidental calls! That's why I was thrilled to learn about a great Fisher-Price item perfect for traveling with little ones this summer!


Features/Benefits of the Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case for iPhones and iPods:

  • Durable case
  • Compatible with iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation
  • Device locks securely inside
  • Protects against drool, teething, unwanted pressing of the home button, etc
  • Encourages learning when using Laugh & Learn apps
  • Helps baby practice hand-eye coordination
  • Textured handles and rattle beads
  • High-quality mirror
When the Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case for iPhone & iPod arrived, I was excited to check it out. This is exactly the type of thing we had  been looking to help protect our devices! 
Upon opening the package I found the product to be extremely well-made. It's durable and something I can tell was made to withstand everyday use by children. The colors are also attractive and bright...perfectly suited for younger children. With a 4 year old, 2 year old and 7 month old...this is a product they all can use and enjoy for many years! 
After checking it over, I was excited to test it out with my iPhone. Thankfully, it couldn't have been easier to use! I simply inserted the device, placed the two pieces together and locked with a coin (could also use a key). 


I was amazed how securely my cell phone was inside. I wasn't sure if there would be any way for it to get scratched or damaged inside, but once we tried it out...I could see that much thought went into making sure that even inside of the case, it would be protected. It's a snug fit so the phone doesn't move inside at all. I love it! 
There's a clear film that protects the screen from baby dribbles or sticky fingers. I was thrilled to see this, as my screen is forever fingerprinted and sticky from my kids' playing with it. It's also nice when my 6 month old has it, as I don't have to worry about his drool ruining it. 
You can even choose to cover the home button to keep kids from pressing buttons or making phone calls. There's a thick piece of plastic along the bottom that covers it completely. This has been especially nice for Caysen who we let hold the iPhone when music is playing or even to check out the fun, free Laugh & Learn apps! We have found however, that for Kaelyn especially, it's nice to have the home button accessible so she can switch between games and activities. I love that you can have it either way. If you'd like the home button accessible, you simply insert the phone in the opposite direction....it's that easy! 
The textured handles make it easy for the kids to grasp and hold onto. Caysen especially likes the textures and playing with the rattle beads. It helps him to enhance his fine motor skills. He also enjoys the high-quality mirror on the back of the case. Like all babies, he loves to look at himself and the shiny mirror really helps to encourage self-discovery!
We've been really happy with the Laugh & Learn Apptivity Case from Fisher-Price! I do wish the volume buttons were accessible when the phone is in the case, but other than that, we really do love it and it's been exactly the thing we've needed with three kids using our iPhone and iPod devices! The quality is fantastic, and I love that it keeps our devices safe while still allowing the kids to have fun, learn and enjoy them! 
If you're looking for a great kid-friendly iPhone case that will help protect your pricey devices...I would definitely recommend checking this product out. For more info you can visit Fisher-Price.com!



You can also connect with Fisher-Price on Facebook







**The product for this review was provided for free. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way. **




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